Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

her hands together to hold herself in place beside Kane.
    Kane dropped his arm around her shoulders and moved her closer beneath his broad shoulder. He bent his head, turning his body partial y, shielding her from the stairs. He brushed a kiss along her hair. “Javier’s taking Sebastian away from what we believe is Whitney’s camera or some sort of monitoring device.” The words were barely audible.
    She let her breath out and turned her face toward his, needing to kiss him, uncaring if any of them saw her. She was grateful he was the kind of man who read and cared about her feelings. He nearly lifted her off her feet, his larger frame completely shielding her, reminding her of when he had gotten her pregnant. He had not only destroyed Whitney’s cameras and recorders, but he had kept his much larger body positioned over hers to protect her from the guard’s prying eyes.
    It was sil y, real y, to think that she needed a white knight, but he made her feel protected, cherished even. There was something to be said for a man who was so wil ing to offer a woman his own body to use as her armor and shield. She slipped her arms around his neck and clung, unashamed, al owing herself a moment of weakness. It was difficult to trust her son to anyone out of her sight, let alone the most dangerous of al the team members.
    He keeps smiling at me.
    The moment Javier spoke inside her mind, she felt herself settle, the wild churning in her stomach subsiding. There was awe, maybe even a hint of joy in the tone.
    He’s so little I thought I might crush him, but he’s strong, isn’t he?
    She recognized an uncle’s pride, and something hard inside her broke open. Javier was a man dedicated to his team and his country—but everyone else was an enemy. She could hear in his voice that Sebastian was family and always would be.
    Rose blinked rapidly and tightened her arms around Kane’s neck for courage. She made herself laugh softly in her mind. He’s very strong. He pushes up off the floor already. Sometimes when he’s kicking, I have to duck very fast, because he’s got quite the kick.
    Javier’s laughter slipped into her mind. Kane urged her forward, and she moved toward the hospital tent. She knew it was impossible for someone like her—someone with her background—to trust the people around her, but they were soldiers, and they knew their jobs. They worked wel together, knew one another. They were offering her the opportunity to have everything she’d ever wanted—a family—and to be able to serve her country as part of an elite unit. She spent nearly every waking minute of her life training to be what these people were—a GhostWalker—and she wanted the chance to use her skil s again.
    She smel ed bleach and blood as she skirted the makeshift hospital. Is Brian going to be able to recover fully?
    Kane had to have been holding a bridge to al ow the others to communicate telepathical y with her, because once again, it was Mack who answered.
    Yes. It will take some time. We were fortunate that we’d already arranged to have surgical equipment here. The “hospital” was going to be set up in the second building up the block, but we haven’t fully renovated it yet. We’ve only set up security.
    Gideon winked at her as he slipped by, taking Javier’s place at the stairs. If something is here, Top, I’ll find it, he said with confidence.
    Gideon’s eyesight is enhanced, Kane explained. He can see things we can’t, and if Javier didn’t find anything, then Gideon’s our last hope.
    You swept for bugs? Rose asked.
    Mack nodded. They had moved around the tent now, out of sight of the stairwel . “Found several in your living quarters and two up here where Eric planted them while his physical therapist was doing his best to kil Kane by overdoing it. Jaimie’s checked their every movement with al the surveil ance tapes frame by frame. We’re confident we were able to find them al .”
    Rose was listening, but her gaze had jumped to Javier, sitting in a rocking chair, Sebastian in his arms. The man had a big grin on his face.
    “Thank you, al of you, for getting Sebastian back,” she said simply. Emotion was nearly overwhelming, wel ing up so fast it was impossible to hold it in check. “You al risked your lives for us . . .”
    “You’re family,” Javier dismissed her stammering thanks with a wave of his hand. “You’d do the same.”
    The confidence in his voice warmed her. “Nevertheless, I